VOY Inspire! With Ahmed Lagraoui: A Young Moroccan Intellectual

I have first met Ahmed when I was in 9th grade. It was during the
preparations for a global showcase of Moroccan traditions linked
to a visit of the ex-king of Greece. I went to the library. And
there he was sitting with our French teacher and the librarian. I
thought he was way older than me, by the way he spoke and how
people listened to him. I didn’t know him, yet he was simply
impressive. He was passionately speaking about a play starring
Adel Emam, and damn he was speaking
knowingly. I sat there listening, I didn’t have much to add, he
said all there is to say.

Our second encounter was during a leadership workshop led by him
and his friend Marouane. When the workshop almost came to an end,
we all voiced our aspirations, dreams and ambitions. I remember
very well what Ahmed said. He simply uttered: “I want to
change Morocco for the better”. As the words left his mouth,
everybody applauded, and few bursted in laughter. But I just sat
there, staring at him, wondering: “Does he really think he can do
something?”

This year, we are in the same class. He always has a say in the
debates. Out of 500 high schoolers, only a few are interested in
politics. He is one of them. And even among them, he is certainly
one of the most passionate about Morocco. So I decided to
interview him.

First things first, tell us a bit about yourself

I am a 17 year-old Moroccan and a member of the Moroccan
Children’s parliament. I am a politics aficionado, especially
Moroccan and Arabian politics. I am also a huge fan of Arab and
Muslim culture. My favorite songs aren’t on the top charts and my
favorite movies have never been in the box office. I love
Melhun, classical arab music, andaloussi chants, and egyptian plays such as Adel
Imam’s ones. I admire Iranians for preserving their
culture. And above all I adore my country,
Morocco.

How have you become interested in Morocco’s history and its
politics, whereas most people don’t care about this?

The flame of my interest in politics lit at the age of 9-10. I
recall very well that at that age I read my first newspapers. The
breaking news at that time were the terrorist attacks on an American Embassy in
2007. I didn’t understand a word of what the journalists were
talking about. I didn’t know enough, I didn’t have enough tools
to analyze and understand what happened and what “terrorist”
meant. I think that’s when I realized that I seriously need to
know more. I wanted to discover this world. I should understand
these political games. I started my readings. I started getting
interested in Morocco’s history. I read about psychology,
history, and took a look at political essays. For me it was huge,
it was damn difficult. I was 12 at that time. That’s how my love
story with politics took root. And to understand better political
issues as diverse as they are, I saw myself obliged to learn more
about the history of all parties. I also think that my family
played a huge role. Once we’re gathered we only speak about
politics.

Do you think that one day the word ‘politics’ will no more
evoke the image of that old fat politician quarreling in the
Parliament?

I think that this stereotype will cease to exist when young
people will decide to cultivate themselves, because I think that
the majority of them are off topic when it comes to culture and
especially history. They don’t understand politics the way it is.
They try too much to read between the lines. I’m only speaking
about those who at least discuss. Others struggle to stay up to
date. They are angry at politics, and that’s what makes them
unable to improve it. I really urge all young people to get
interested in politics, to go forward, to take initiatives, and
to work. We should work hard, because that’s how we will change
the world we live in. And in our particular case, that’s how we
can change Morocco.

What would you say to little Ahmed if you could brief him or
give him one advice?

I don’t regret much. I see that most of what I did was well done.
I think I’ve carried out my missions well. If I haven’t, many
things would have gone wrong. So, yeah, I don’t think I have any
regret. But, maybe I could’ve learnt how to play Oud. I see
it as an instrument that carries the essence of the modern Arab
culture. A beautifully made instrument, that produces insanely
beautiful melodies.

Who are your sources of inspiration?

People who had an impact on me range from Hassan II to Mu’tazilas, a common trait between them is that
they swam against the stream. But my role model is my uncle. He
taught me the basics of critical thinking, he really is someone
I’ll never forget. He taught me how to dream, he cheered me on
when I felt down. He’s a man that read everything, knows
everything and who is an intellectual that inspires me to this
day.

You’re young, you’re 17, however, you’re an intellectual, and
a very patriotic one. That’s rare, impressive, but sometimes also
annoying. Don’t you irritate adults sometimes?

Most adults who aren’t of my circles don’t really cringe. They’re
proud. As for teachers, well, we can’t say they love me as much
(laughs). I always have problems with teachers. Especially
philosophy, history, geography and islamic education. Because I’m
opposed to some lessons of the curriculum. I think that in
history and geography we should focus more on some interesting
details of our history. And in islamic education, I’m totally
against some lessons, because with the current circumstances, I
see that those lessons back the rise of radical islam,
ideologically speaking. I want them to teach us the real religion
and the real history, that has been neglected, and that we know
so little of. Today, we, Moroccans, live in a dualism, and we
don’t know anymore what’s good and what’s evil, what’s halal and
what’s haram, what’s true and what’s false. And that’s a pity.

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